Hydraulic valve



Oct. ,20, 1942.

H. F. FRIMEL HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed sept". 28. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 plish these desiredv featuresy without violating with a valve seat I8, upon which is seated a valve,

Patented Oct.`20, 1942 i y I l UNITED `STATES PATENTv OFFICE I HYDRAULIC VALVE Hobart F. Frimel, West Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor Vto Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corp., a corporation of California .Application september 2s, 194o,seria1No. 358,769 s claims. (ci. 277-20) My invention relates to valves of the type used Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showin hydraulic systems and the like. My valve is ing thevalve in closed or locked position. of the multiple type and is particularly designed More particularly describing the form of. my for hydraulic systems such as are used on airinvention, illustrated in the drawings, I desigplanes for the control and operation of flaps, 5 nates a valve body. This body I0 is provided landing gear, bomb doors, radiator shutter conwith four vertical bores forming valve chambers trol on liquid cooled engines and for theflap con- II, I2, I3 and I4 arranged in line in a vertical trol on cowlingused on air cooled engines. plane. Each of these chambers is provided with In airplane construction a primary considera shoulder upon which is seated a gasket I5. i6

ation is lightness of parts, compactness, strength l0 designates valve seat sleeves in each chamber and ease of operation and in the designing of such sleeves being provided with a flange at their valves, for operation of the moving parts of aire upper ends Aindicated at I1 seated on the gasket planes, it particularly has been the aim to accoml5. Each sleeve I6 is provided at its upper end safety requirements. However, valves in comindicated at 20, 2|, 22 and 23. These .valves are vmon use, for thepurpose indicated, have not been all of the same construction and each is provided successful in meeting these requirements'and' the with a valve stem 25. The upper ends of the principal object of my invention is to provide a valve chambers are provided with caps indicated simple and eincient valve assembly, light and at 26, 21; 28 and 29 threaded into the upper'end compact and whichV may lbeloperated by the apof the respective chambers and seated on gasplication of less power than that required in the kets indicated at 30 on the upper face of the operation of valves now in commbn practice for body. The valve caps 26, 21 and 29 are each in-l the purposes indicated. teriorly threaded to receive pipe connections It is a further object of my invention to prohereinafter more fully described, while the valve duce a valve assembly of the type described of 25 cap 28 is a blank forming a closure for the chamv simple form and construction of the tappet valve ber I3. Each oi the valves 20 to 23 inclusive is type'in which the pressure of the fluid in the yieldingly held 0n its Seat by means 0f @Coil system is always againstthe. valve tending to spring indicated at'3I and as hereinafter more hold the same in seated or closed position. fully described.- When pressure is in the system It is another'object of my invention to produce 30 it is against the valves tending to hold same on a valve assembly of the type referred to in which their respective seats. the valve operating means has the smallest ratio Extending longitudinally through valve body of lifting motion when the valve is in closed posi- I0 is a bore indicated at 32 in which is centrally tion `and the greatest ratio of lifting motion disposed a rotatably mounted valve lifter shaft 33. One end of this shaft extends into and is duCing a minimum Operating torque to lift the supported bya sleeve 34 formed on a plate 35 valve-under the fluid pressure against'the valve. bolted to one end of the valve body. the other Other objects and advantages will appear hereend extending througha plate bolted on the opinafter from the `following description and drawposite end of the valve body I 8 indicated at 36. ings. Referring to the drawings, which are for 40 Indicated at 31, 38,39 and 40 is a series of packillustrative purposes on1y ing members in the bore 32 which support the Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewvof a valve shaft 33 which packing members are arranged in embodying a form of my invention; the bore 32 about the lifting shaft 33. Between Fig 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the packing members 31, and 38 on the shaft 33 line 2-2 of Fig. 1,; 45 is a sleeve 4I. A similar sleeve'42 is arranged Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on between the packing members 38 and 39 and a line 3-3 of Fig. 1; similar sleeve 43 between the packing members Figs. 4, -5, 6 and 7 are enlarged cross sectional 39 and 40. 'Ihe sleeves 34, 4I, 42 and 43 are each views through the valve opening cams on the opof smaller diameter than the bore 32 and provide erating shaft; annular chambers 45, 46, 41 and 48 therein about Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration'o'f the the shaft 33. Each sleeve is provided With 0P- valve, the pump and cylinder connections showpositely disposed openings through the upper ing one open position of the valve; of which extend the ends of the respective valve Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing anstems into engagement with the lifter cams on other open position of the valve; and the valve liftershaft 33.

center of the lifting shaft so that as the lifting shaft is turned either in one direction or the other as may be required to lift certain of the valves, the lifting cams of lifting force at the instant of raising the valves off their seats, the continued movement of the lifting cams requiring comparatively small lifting moment. This is to accommodate the condition in the system due to the fact that the pressure in the system is always against the valves to keep the same upon their seats and that once lifted off the seats the valves have equal pressure on both sides of the valves. The plate 35 is provided with a packing ring 35' which seals off one end of the valve body. The plate 36 is countersunk as indicated at 36 to receive a C washer or split washer which ilts into a groove 33' in shaft 33 for locating the shaft in the valve body. The sleeve 34 is provided with ports indicated at 51 which afford open communication from the chamber 45 to the interior of the sleeve 34 which in turn is open to pipe 58 preferably connected to a tank 59, hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Below the bore 32 is a longitudinal manifold or return passage 60 provided with a port 6| communicating with chamber 48 and a port 62 communicating with chamber 45. Valve chamber II is connected through a pipe 64 threaded into the valve cap 26 to one end of the cylinder indicated at 65 in Fig. 8 and such valve chamber is also in open communication with chamber 46 by means of a port 66. The valve chamber I2 is connected and in open communication with valve chamber I3 by means of a port 61 and the valve chamber I2 is connected by means of a pipe 68 threaded into the valve cap 21 to a pump diagrammatically illustrated at 69 in Fig. 8. 10 indicates a port connecting chamber 41 with the valve chamber I4, which valve chamber is in turn connected by means of a pipe 1| with the opposite end or the cylinder ss.

For the purpose of rotating the valve lifter shaft 33 to operate the valves 20 to 23 inclusive through the medium of the lifting cams 52 to 55 inclusive, an arm 13 is provided which fits over the outer end of the valve lifter rod 33. The end, of the valve lifter shaft 33 is provided with longitudinal grooves 14 which receive longitudinal teeth 15 formed in the hub 16 of the arm 13. This construction is for ting a fine adjustment as to angular position of the arm 13 on the shaft 33 so that such angular position of the shaft can be changed as may be necessary to meet the arrangement of operating mechanism for the shaft. The arm 13 is held in position on the end of the shaft 33 by means of a split ring indicated at 11 which fits into corresponding grooves formed in the hub 16 and in shaft 33. A bolt 18 is also provided extending into the shaft 33 and engaging the outer end of the hub 16 through the medium of a washer 19.

The valve operates in the following manner: There are three rotative positions of the valve lifter shaft 33 which may be termed the operating shaft, One position, which may be called neutral, is that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10 in the purpose of permithave the greatest moment Y valve chamber the moving piston which all the valves are seated and all fluid flow is stopped thereby locking the mechanism operated by the valve in set position. As shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive the cylinder 65 is provided with a piston having a piston rod 8| which is connected in any suitable manner to the mechanism, the movement of which is to be controlled by the hydraulic system and the multiple valve shown.

In the neutral position, that is, with a-ll the valves closed it is to beA noted that the valves are held upon their respective seats by the pressure in thesystem of the pump 69. The pump 69 being connected through pipe 68 to the valve chamber I3 holds valve 22 on its seat and also valve 2| as the valve chambers I2 and I3 are in open communication with each other through port 61 thereby cutting oi communication of the pump pressure through the valves 2| and 22.

What may be termed a second position is accomplished by turning the operating shaft 33 clockwise during which movement lifting cams 53 and 55 lift valves 2| and 23 as shown diagramin itically in Fig. 8. When the valves are in this position fluid pressure from the pump entering I2 through pipe 68 passes through the open valve 2| into chamber 46 then through port 66 to valve chamber above the valve 20. From valve chamber the fluid pressure passes through pipe 64 to one end of the cylinder 65 behind the piston causing the same to move in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 8 and thereby operate the piston rod 8| and any mechanism connected thereto. `The fluid in front of 80 passes downwardly through pipe 1| into valve chamber I4 then to the open valve to chamber 48 through port 6|, return passage 60, port 62 into chamber 45, then through ports 51 and pipe 58 to the tank 59.` A third or reverse position is obtained by turning the shaft 33 in the opposite direction thereby through the medium of lifting cams 53 and 54 raising valves 2l) and 22 off their seats. When in this position fluid pressure, from the pump enters valve chamber I2 through pipe 68 then through passage 61 to valve chamber I3 and as such valve is open the fluid pressure passes through the open valve into chamber 41 then through pipe 1| into the opposite end of the cylinder 65, from that described in the last position so that the fluid pressure in the cylinder causing the piston 80 to travel in the direction of the arrow shown in the cylinder 65 as shown in Fig. 9. The fluid in front of the piston when the valve is in this position, passes through pipe 64 into valve chamber then through the open valve 20 into chamber 45 then through ports '51 and pipe 58 to the tank 58.

The lifting cams on the operating shaft 33 are of smaller cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the shaft. By reason of such construction the shaft may be inserted axially into the packing members, sleeves or other supporting members, thereby affording simple assembly of the parts without the use of split rings and similar devices.

The cross sectional shape of the respective lifter cams 52 to 55 inclusive, and the relation of the position of the cams to the valve seat seats is of extreme importance as these cams as heretofore mentioned are so arranged that the greatest moment of lifting force is applied to the valve stem at the instant of initial lift of the valve from its seat.` This is accomplished by locating the center of the arcuate surface of the cam so that the center of eccentricity is at its greatest distance from the valve seat when the valve is seated thereon.

With the arrangement just described the valve may be operated at fluid pressure greatly beyond they pressures that may be controlled by valves in common use'for'similar purposes. f

`While I have shownV and described the valve v in what may be termed upright position, it'is to be understood that the valve is so. designed so as to work in any. convenient position to accommodate the structure in the"airplane. In fact, the valve may be installed just the reverse, that is,upside down from the position shown in the drawings-in which case the springs 3| assist in keeping the valves on their seat, except when positively moved by means of the lifter cams.

I claim as my invention;

1. In fluid control means, a housing havingv a system of fluid passages including an inlet and an outlet, said housing having a plurality of valve chambers and having a bore at one end of said valve chambers; a valve in each valve chamber,

stems when the respective valves are open; a shaft in said bore of less diameter than the bore having cam sections thereon engageable by the ends of said valve stems, certain of said cam sections being angularly displaced relative'to the others whereby rotation of said shaft will selecin said bore forming a part of the iluid passage system of the housing.

2. In fluid control means, a housing having a plurality of valvey chambers and' having a shaft bore Yiommunicating therewith; a valve in each valve chamber having a stem extending into said bore, said valve stems being free of packing and of less cross-sectional area than any part of the chambers through which they extend whereby fluidV is free to travel along the entire length of the stems -when the valves are open; a rotatable valveshaft in said shaft bo're of less diameter than the bore, said shaft having cam sections thereon engageable by the ends of said valve stems, certain of said cam sections being angularly displaced relative to the others whereby rotation of said shaft will selectively operate the valves; and annular packing means surrounding said shaft dividing said bore into annular chambers opposite to and in communication with the respective valve chambers; said housing being provided with fluid passages connecting the' outer ends of certain of said valve chambers with the annular chambers opposite the inner ends of certain other valve chambers, said housing having a fluid passage connecting certain other of said annular chambers with a commonoutlet,

lsaid housing having ports connectinglthe outer ends'of certain of said valve chambers with the exterior of said housing., t

3. In iiuid control means, a'housing having a plurality of aligned valve chambers and having a longitudinal bore at right angles thereto; al valve seat in each valve chamber; a poppet valve in each valve chamber adapted to engage the seat and having a stem extending vthrough the `opening in the seat and through the valve chamber into saidbore, said valve stems beingv free of packing and of less cross-sectional area than 75 any part oi the passage through which they extend whereby fluid is free to travel alongA the entire length of the stems when the valves are open; guide means for the valve stems permitting said passage of fluid along the stems; a rotatable valve shaft in said bore of less diameter than the bore, said shaft having cam `sections thereon engageable by the ends of said valve stems, certain of said cam sections being angularly displaced relative to the others whereby rotation of said vshaft will selectively operate the valves; and annular packing means surrounding said shaft dividing said bore into annular chambers opposite to and in communication with the respective valve chambers; said housing being provided with fluid passages connecting the outer ends of certain of said valve chambers withthe annular chambers opposite the inner ends of certain other valve chambers said housing having a fluid passage connecting certain other of said annular chambers with a common outlet, said housing having ports connecting the outer ends of certain of said valve chambers with the eX- terior of said housing.

4. In fluid control means, a housing having a plurality of aligned valve chambers and having a longitudinal bore at right angles thereto; a valve seat in each valve chamber; a valve in each valve chamber adapted to engage the seat and having a stem extending through the opening in the seat and through the valve chamber into said bore, said valve stems being free of packing and of less cross-sectional area than any part of the passage through which they extend whereby fluid is free to travel along the entire length of the stems when the valves are open; a rotatable valve shaft in said bore of less diameter thanthe bore, vsaid shaft having cam sections thereon engageable bythe ends of said valve stems, certain of said camsections being angularly dis-placed relative to Athe others whereby rotation of said shaft will selectively operate the valves; apertured sleeves spaced. along said shaft, said sleeves receiving the respective valve stems through the apertures therein. and being of less outer diameter than the diameter of the bore; and annular packing means between said sleeves and cooperating therewith to divide said bore into annular chambers surrounding each sleeve opposite to and in communication with the respective valve chambers; said housing being provided with fluid passages connecting the outer ends of certain of said valvek chambers with the annular chambers opposite the inner ends of certain other valve chambers, said housing `having a fluidpassage connecting certain other of said annular chambersvwith a common outlet, said housing having ports connecting the outer ends of certain of said valve chambers with the exterior of said housing.

`5. In fluid-control means, a housing having four valve chambers therein arranged in a row and having a longitudinal bore yat right angles to said chambers and communicating therewith; a valve in each chamber intermediate the ends thereof and having -a stem extending into said bore; a rotatable shaft in said bore of less diameter tha-n the bore; cams on said shaft engaging said valve stems, certain of said cam sections being angularly displaced relative to the others;

packing means surrounding said shaft and cooperating therewith to divide said bore into four annular chambers respectively located' at the inner ends of the respective valve chambers and open' thereto; means for rotating said shaft to four valve chambers tudinal bore; said stems selectively 'open said valves; said housing having a uid passageway connecting the endmost annular chambers of the longitudinal bore, having an exhaust port communicating with one of said endmost annular chambers, having an inlet port communicating with the outer end of one of said intermediate valve chambers, having a fluid passageway connecting the intermediate valve chambers at their outer ends, having a pair of iiuid passageways connecting the outer ends of the endmost valve chambers with the inner ends of the two intermediate valve chambers, and having ports connecting the outer ends of the endmost valve chambers with the exterior of said housing.

6. In uid control means, a housing having therein arranged in a row and having a longitudinal bore at right angles thereto and communicating therewith; a valve in each chamber intermediate the ends thereof having a valve stem extending into said longibeing free of packing and of less cross sectional area than any part of the chambers through which they extend whereby iiuid is free to travel along the length of said stems when the respective valves are open; a rotatableshaft in said bore of less diameter than the bore; cams on said shaft engageable with said valve stems, certain of said cam sections being angularly displaced relative to the others; apertured sleeves spaced along said shaft, said sleeves receiving the respective valve stems through the apertures therein and being of less outer diameter than the diameter of the bore; annular packing means between said sleeves and cooperating therewith to divide said bore into four annular chambers respectively located at the inner ends of the respective valve chambers and communicating therewith; means for rotating said shaft to selectively open said valves;- said housing having a fluid passageway connecting the endmost annular chambers of the longitudinal bore, having an exhaust port communieating with one of said endmost annular chambers, having an inlet port communicating with the outer end of one of said intermediate valve chambers, having a fluid passageway connecting the intermediate valve chambers at their outer ends, having a pair of fluid passageways connecting the.outer ends of the endmost valve chambers with the inner ends of the two intermediate valve chambers, and having portsv connecting the outer ends of the endmost valve chambers with the exterior of said housing.

HOBART F. FRIMEL. 

